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Bears reach SLC title game again

Take on SE Louisiana Saturday afternoon

The ninth victory in a row by the University of Central Arkansas baseball team Friday night gives the Bears a chance to go for a two-peat Saturday afternoon.

After disposing of McNeese State for the second straight night — this time 8-6 — the Bears will play Southeastern Louisiana for the Southland Conference tournament title and NCAA berth at 1 p.m. Saturday at Bear Stadium. When the Bears (32-21) reached the SLC championship last year, they did it from the No. 7 seed. They surged to the title game from the 6 seed this year.

UCA has now won nine games in a row and eight SLC tournament gaves, dating back to last year.

Earlier Friday, Southeastern Louisiana turned back a stout effort by Northwestern State, rallying from a 3-2 deficit in the eighth, for a 7-3 victory. The Demons had advanced from the losers bracket by downing top seed Sam Houston State in an elimination game, 4-1. McNeese State eliminated Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 8-5.

In the double-elimination bracket format, the two top teams in each bracket play in a winner-take-all game for the championship regardless of their bracket record.

Trailing 3-0 in the second, the Bears took command with five runs on two hits. They scored two runs on five hits in the fourth.

Wesley Hoover drove in two runs with a two-out single, keying the UCA rally in the second.

Tyler Langley also drove in a run.

Connor McClain, the third UCA pitcher, allowed one run on three hits and struck out seven over four innings in recording his fourth save.

McNeese ran itself out of a bigger rally in the first inning when Matt Williams was caught stealing home. The five-run rally, seemingly ended by a diving catch by Stan Peterson, was prolonged by a balk that wiped out the catch that would have ended the inning.

Nate Farrell was 3 for 4 for the Bears, driving in two runs and scoring twice. Scott Ximmerle was 2 for 3 with two RBI, including a sacrifice fly t ht gave UCA a cushion in the sixth.

Josh Markel (3-0) was th winner in 3.2 innings of relief of starter chris Caudle. He allowed five hits and struck out one.